U.S. patent number 10,604,342 [Application Number 16/105,362] was granted by the patent office on 2020-03-31 for reconfigurable sortation wall.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Amazon Technologies, Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Amazon Technologies, Inc.. Invention is credited to Jaemi Cheri Tiangco Bermudez, Doug Bryan, Darryl Jensen, Mangesh Kolharkar.
United States Patent |
10,604,342 |
Bermudez , et al. |
March 31, 2020 |
Reconfigurable sortation wall
Abstract
A wall includes first and second shelves defining a space
therebetween and each have bottom and top surfaces, the top being
planar and smooth between induction and outlet sides. A track
assembly on the bottom of the first shelf defines guides parallel
with the induction and outlet sides and defining sequential slots.
A partition has top and bottom portions telescopically coupled for
relative vertical translation between a first position, where pins
of the bottom portion anchor within receptacles of the second
shelf, and a second position, in which the pins are remote from the
receptacles. Rollers coupled to the top portion roll along the
guides to translate the partition therealong. Locking members
opposite the rollers each slide along a latch structure between a
locked position in which a locking pin resides within one of the
slots and an unlocked position in which the locking pin is remote
from each slot.
Inventors: |
Bermudez; Jaemi Cheri Tiangco
(Des Moines, WA), Kolharkar; Mangesh (Sammamish, WA),
Bryan; Doug (Seattle, WA), Jensen; Darryl (Seattle,
WA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Amazon Technologies, Inc. |
Seattle |
WA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Amazon Technologies, Inc.
(Seattle, WA)
|
Family
ID: |
69951777 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/105,362 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G
1/02 (20130101); G06Q 10/08 (20130101); B65G
1/04 (20130101); A47B 57/586 (20130101); B65G
1/1378 (20130101); A47B 57/10 (20130101); A47B
57/588 (20130101); A47F 5/005 (20130101); A47F
5/105 (20130101); A47F 3/004 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65G
1/04 (20060101); A47B 57/10 (20060101); A47B
57/58 (20060101); A47F 3/00 (20060101); A47F
5/00 (20060101); A47F 5/10 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;198/836.1,836.4 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Deuble; Mark A
Attorney, Agent or Firm: BakerHostetler
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of reconfiguring a wall of an item sorting system in an
order fulfillment center, the wall defining a plurality of chutes
arranged in rows and columns of chutes, wherein chutes of each of
the rows of chutes are spaced from each other along a lateral
direction, and chutes of each of the columns of chutes are spaced
from each other along a vertical direction perpendicular to the
lateral direction, the method comprising: conveying a plurality of
items along at least one conveyor to a station proximate an
induction side of the wall, wherein the induction side of the wall
is opposite an outlet side of the wall along a third direction
perpendicular to each of the lateral direction and the vertical
direction; moving at least some of the plurality of items from the
station to the induction side; depositing the at least some of the
items through openings into respective chutes of the plurality of
chutes, thereby consolidating groups of the plurality of items into
the respective chutes, wherein each of the groups is associated
with a customer order; transmitting a first signal to a control
unit that is in operative control of the at least one conveyor,
thereby causing the control unit to pause the at least one conveyor
responsive to the first signal; while the at least one conveyor is
paused, telescopically contracting each of a first partition and a
second partition of a select row of chutes upward along the
vertical direction, thereby uncoupling anchor pins affixed to a
bottom end of each of the first and second partitions from
engagement with complimentary first anchor receptacles defined in a
first shelf that defines a bottom of the select row of chutes; and
after the telescopically contracting step, translating the first
and second partitions along a track assembly elongate along the
lateral direction, the track assembly affixed to an underside of a
second shelf that defines a top of the select row of chutes, each
of the first and second partitions separating a respective pair of
chutes of the select row of chutes, wherein the translating step
adjusts a dimension of each chute of the respective pair of chutes
along the lateral direction; and telescopically expanding the first
and second partitions downward along the vertical direction,
thereby coupling the anchor pins to complimentary second anchor
receptacles defined in the first shelf in a manner anchoring the
first and second partitions to the first shelf; and transmitting a
second signal to the control unit, thereby causing the control unit
to resume conveyance of the at least one conveyor responsive to the
second signal.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, while the at least
one conveyor is paused, adjusting a dimension of each chute of the
select row of chutes along the vertical direction, wherein the
adjusting step comprises moving at least one of the first and
second shelves with respect to the other of the first and second
shelves along the vertical direction.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the translating step comprises
manually moving the first and second partitions along the track
assembly, wherein the manually moving step comprises: causing a
first pair of rollers rotationally coupled to a top end of the
first partition to roll along a first guide surface defined by a
first guide member of the track assembly, and causing a second pair
of rollers rotationally coupled to a top end of the second
partition to roll along a second guide surface defined by a second
guide member of the track assembly, wherein the guide surfaces are
spaced from each other along the third direction, a center support
member of the track assembly extends parallel with the guide
surfaces along the lateral direction, and the center support member
is disposed equidistantly between the guide surfaces with respect
to the third direction.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising, prior to the manually
moving step: moving each of a first tab and a second tab coupled to
the top end of the first partition from respective first and second
locked positions to respective first and second unlocked positions,
wherein 1) in the first locked position, a first locking pin of the
first tab extends within one of a first series of complimentary
slots spaced sequentially along the first guide member, and 2) in
the second locked position, a second locking pin of the second tab
extends within one of a second series of complimentary slots spaced
sequentially along the second guide member; and moving each of a
third tab and a fourth tab coupled to the top end of the second
partition from respective third and fourth locked positions to
respective third and fourth unlocked positions, wherein 1) in the
third locked position, a third locking pin of the third tab extends
within another of the first series of complimentary slots, and 2)
in the fourth locked position, a fourth locking pin of the fourth
tab extends within another of the second series of complimentary
slots.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein moving each of the first tab and
the second tab comprises sliding the first and second tabs away
from each other along the third direction, and moving each of the
third tab and the fourth tab comprises sliding the third and fourth
tabs away from each other along the third direction.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the sliding steps each comprise
manually gripping an outer surface of each respective tab and
pulling each respective tab along a respective latch structure that
is disposed at the top end of the respective partition, thereby
riding an inner surface of the respective tab against a detent arm
of the latch structure in a manner causing the detent arm to
deflect out of a first notch defined in the inner surface and
subsequently deflect into a second notch that is defined in the
inner surface and is spaced from the first notch along the third
direction, the first notch defines the respective locked position,
and the second notch defines the respective unlocked position.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the sliding steps each comprise
sliding at least one guide rail defined by the one of the inner
surface and the latch structure along and within a complementary at
least one guide slot defined by the other of the inner surface and
the latch structure.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the pulling step comprises moving
a stop surface defined within a guide aperture of the respective
tab toward an opposed free end of a latch arm that is biased within
the guide aperture until the stop surface abuts the free end in a
manner inhibiting detachment of the respective tab from the latch
structure.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising depressing the latch
arm along the lateral direction until the latch arm vacates the
guide aperture, and subsequently detaching the respective tab from
the latch structure.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein: each of the first and second
partitions comprises an upper partition panel slidably coupled to a
lower partition panel in a parallel manner, the upper partition
panel and the lower partition panel each extending from the
induction side to the outlet side, the upper partition panel
translationally coupled to the track assembly, the telescopically
contracting step comprises, for each of the first and second
partitions, translating the lower partition panel upward relative
to the upper partition panel, and the telescopically expanding step
comprises, for each of the first and second partitions, translating
the lower partition panel downward relative to the upper partition
panel.
11. A wall for rebinning items in an order fulfillment center,
comprising: a first shelf vertically overlaying a second shelf so
as to define a space therebetween, the first and second shelves
each defining a bottom surface and an opposed top surface that is
planar, smooth, and extends from an induction side to an outlet
side; a track assembly affixed to the bottom surface of the first
shelf, the track assembly defining first and second guide members
running along a direction that is parallel with the induction and
outlet sides, each of the first and second guide members defining a
series of slots that are sequentially spaced along the direction;
at least one partition having a top portion and a bottom portion
telescopically coupled to each other so as to vertically translate
relative to each other between a first position, in which pins of
the bottom portion anchor within receptacles of the second shelf,
and a second position, in which the pins are remote from the
receptacles; a first roller and a second roller each rotationally
coupled to the top portion, wherein the first and second rollers
are configured to roll along the first and second guide members,
respectively, so as to translate the at least one partition along
the direction; and a first locking member opposite the first roller
and a second locking member opposite the second roller, wherein
each of the first and second locking members comprises a tab
configured to slide along a latch structure between 1) a locked
position in which a locking pin extending from the tab is received
within a select one of the slots, and 2) an unlocked position in
which the locking pin is remote from each of the series of
slots.
12. The wall of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of
supports extending vertically between a floor and a top of the
wall, wherein the first and second shelves are each vertically
repositionable along the supports so as to change a vertical
dimension of the space defined between the first and second
shelves.
13. The wall of claim 11, wherein the top and bottom portions
define complimentary features that restrict relative movement
between the top and bottom portions to facilitate telescopic
translational movement.
14. The wall of claim 13, wherein the complimentary features
include a vertically elongate slot defined in the bottom portion,
wherein a slider defined by the top portion extends within the
vertically elongate slot and is configured to vertically translate
along the vertically elongate slot.
15. The wall of claim 14, wherein the slider defines a head that is
wider than the vertically elongate slot so as to retain the slider
within the vertically elongate slot.
16. The wall of claim 15, wherein the vertically elongate slot is
in communication with an opening that is wider than the head, such
that the slider can escape the vertically elongate slot when the
head is aligned with the opening.
17. The wall of claim 11, further comprising a center support beam
welded to the bottom surface of the first shelf and spaced
equidistantly between the first and second guide members.
18. The wall of claim 11, wherein the latch structure comprises a
detent arm configured to deflect within a notch defined in an inner
surface of the tab when the tab is in the locked position.
19. The wall of claim 11, wherein the pins comprise at least four
pins anchored within at least four respective receptacles when the
top and bottom portions of the at least one partition are in the
first position.
20. The wall of claim 11, wherein the locking pins of the first and
second locking members are coaxial with each other.
Description
BACKGROUND
In a materials handling facility, such as an order fulfillment
center, multiple customer orders are received, where each order
specifies one or more items from inventory to be shipped to the
customer that submitted the order. To fulfill the customer orders,
the one or more items specified in each order may be retrieved, or
picked, from inventory (which may also be referred to as stock
storage) in the materials handling facility. Under direction of a
control system, picked items may be singulated and then inducted
into a conveyance mechanism that routes the items to particular
destinations, such as sorting stations, in accordance with the
customer orders currently being processed. One or more of the
sorting stations can be designated for processing customer orders,
or even subsets of customer orders, that include multiple items
which have been designated by the control system to be grouped and
packaged together in a single package. Such groups of items are
often referred to in the industry as "multis."
A sorting station for consolidating items into such groups or
multis can include a sortation structure, such as type of sortation
wall referred to as a "rebin" wall, which has a plurality of
receptacles (also referred to herein as or "compartments" or
"chutes") in which the singulated items are grouped together, such
as at a designated "rebin" portion of the chute located at an
induction side of the wall. Once the multi has been fully
consolidated in the rebin portion of the chute, the items thereof
can be directed, such as by an associate manually pushing the
items, across a boundary and into a designated "packing" portion of
the chute adjacent an outlet side of the wall. From the packing
portion of the chutes, the items can be collected and directed to
an order processing station, such as a packing station at which the
multis are processed, packed, and labeled for shipping to the
customer. A picked, packed and shipped order, such as a multi, does
not necessarily include all of the items ordered by the customer,
as an outgoing shipment to a customer may include only a subset of
the ordered items available to ship at one time from the materials
handling facility.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following detailed description will be better understood when
read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which there is
shown in the drawings example embodiments for the purposes of
illustration. It should be understood, however, that the present
disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements and
instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of a system for sorting items,
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 shows a front elevation view of the rebin wall illustrated
in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a shelf-mounting structure of a
rebin wall, according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a shelf for the rebin wall
illustrated in FIG. 2, also depicting a chute partition coupled to
a top surface the shelf and also coupled to a guide assembly,
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 5 shows another perspective view of the shelf illustrated in
FIG. 4, with a chute partition similar to that of FIG. 4 coupled to
a bottom surface of the shelf, according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
FIG. 6 shows another perspective view of the chute partition
illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6;
FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of complimentary vertical
guides of the chute partition, taken along section line 7-7 in FIG.
6;
FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of an anchoring pin of the chute
partition illustrated in FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a follower mechanism and a
locking mechanism of the of the chute partition illustrated in FIG.
8;
FIG. 10 shows an exploded perspective view of the follower
mechanism and the locking mechanism illustrated in FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a locking member of the locking
mechanism illustrated in FIG. 10; and
FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the locking mechanism in
engagement with the guide assembly illustrated in FIG. 4, according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In fulfillment centers that process large volumes of items that
have varying sizes and shapes, rebin walls that include chutes
having static, non-adjustable dimensions, or dimensions that are
only adjustable with significant maintenance time, are limited in
volume of customer orders that can be processed at the wall.
The present disclosure pertains to a rebin wall having chute
partitions that are manually adjustable with respect to one or more
orthogonal directions, such as a horizontal direction and vertical
direction, so as to reconfigure the dimensions of one or more and
up to all of the chutes within a typical work stoppage duration,
such as a 30 minute lunch break, for example. Thus, rebin walls
configured according to the embodiments of the present disclosure
can be reconfigured as needed to process orders having different
chute volume requirements that would otherwise need to be conveyed
to another rebin wall or other sorting station. Moreover, the
foregoing wall reconfiguring can occur multiple times per day
without significant increases in work stoppage. Thus the rebin
walls described herein are expected exhibit a significantly
increased sorting efficiency and thus also a significantly
increased sorting volume.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a system 1 for sorting items 2, such as in
a fulfillment center, can include a rebin wall 3 for consolidating
a plurality of items 2 into groups of items that are each
associated with a customer order, which activity is also referred
to herein as "rebinning." The rebin wall 3 can extend along a first
horizontal direction, such as a transverse direction X, that is
perpendicular to a second horizontal direction, such as a lateral
direction Y. The rebin wall 3 is preferably elongate along the
lateral direction Y. The rebin wall 3 defines a first or induction
side I and a second or outlet side O opposite each other along the
transverse direction X. The rebin wall 3 can be demarked into a
first portion, also referred to herein as a "rebin" portion R, and
a second portion, also referred to herein as a "packing" portion P.
The rebin portion R can extend from the induction side I along the
transverse direction X to a boundary, which can be located along a
lateral axis Y1 that intersects a transverse midpoint between the
induction side I and the outlet side O. The packing portion P can
extend from the outlet side O to the boundary along the transverse
direction X. A first operator 4 positioned on the induction side I
of the rebin wall 3 can transfer items that have been conveyed to a
station 5 located proximate the induction side I to the rebin wall
3 and into the rebin portions R of respective chutes 6 defined
therein. Once a group of items is fully consolidated into a chute
6, the first operator 4 can push the items transversely into the
packing portion P of the chute 6. It is to be appreciated that one
or more additional first operators 4 can transfer items to the
rebin portion R of the rebin wall 3.
One or more second operators 7 positioned on the outlet side O of
the wall 3 can transfer the consolidated groups of items from the
packing portions P of the chutes 6 to one or more additional
stations, such as packing stations 8, as described above. The
system 1 can include at least one conveyor 9, such as an automated
or semi-automated mechanical conveyor, that conveys the plurality
items to the station 5. An additional conveyor 10, such as a return
conveyor, can convey items away from the station 5 as needed.
The system 1 can include an electronic control unit 12 that is in
operative control of the at least one conveyor 9. The control unit
12 can be in communication with a processor 14, such as a
microprocessor or the like, that is in communication with computer
memory 16 and can be configured to operate software for controlling
operation of the system 1, such as by controlling the conveyance of
items to the station 5 via the at least one conveyor 9. The
processor 14 can also be in communication with the station 5, which
can include a user interface 18 allowing the first operator 4 to
monitor or affect operation of the system, as needed. The processor
14 can also be in communication with a server 20, which can be
located within the fulfillment center or can be located remotely
from the fulfillment center, in which case the server 20 can be
referred to as a remote server 20. As mentioned above, the rebin
wall 2 can be reconfigured so as to adjust the size of one or more
and up to all of the chutes 6. The control unit 12 can be
configured to transmit instructions for reconfiguring the size of
the chutes 6 from the server 20 to the first operator 4, such as by
displaying the instructions at the user interface 18, for example.
It is envisioned that, multiple times per day, the server 20 can
transmit instructions for reconfiguring the rebin wall 3 to the
user interface 18. With such transmissions, the server 20 can also
provide the control unit 12 with additional instructions for
pausing the at least one conveyor 9, such as at a designated time,
such as an already scheduled work stoppage, for example, to allow
for operators to reconfigure the rebin wall 3 during the work
stoppage. Along with the instructions, or in addition to the
instructions, a first signal can be transmitted to the control unit
12, such as from the server 20 or from an operator 4 via the user
interface 18, that causes the control unit 12 to pause the at least
one conveyor 9, and thus pause conveyance of items to the station
5, which allows the rebin wall 3 to be reconfigured, particularly
by reconfiguring the dimensions of one or more and up to all of the
chutes 6.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the rebin wall 3 can define a first
lateral end 21 and a second lateral end 22 spaced from each other
along the lateral direction Y. The rebin wall 3 extends from a
support surface 24, such as a floor of a fulfillment center, for
example, to a top 26 of the wall 3 along a vertical direction Z. It
is to be appreciated that the transverse direction X, the lateral
direction Y, and the vertical direction Z are perpendicular to each
other. As used herein, the term "transversely" means along the
transverse direction X; the term "laterally" means along the
lateral direction Y; and the term "vertically" means along the
vertical direction Z.
The rebin wall 3 can include a plurality of vertical support
members 28, which can also be referred to simply as "supports," and
a plurality of horizontal support members 30, also referred to
herein as "shelves," that are mountable to the vertical support
members 28. The rebin wall 3 can define one or more areas or "bays"
32 that extend laterally between adjacent supports 28. Thus, such
adjacent supports 28 can define lateral ends of a respective bay
32. Preferably, each vertical support member 28 comprises a panel
or the like that extends from the induction side I to the outlet
side O, thus enclosing the lateral ends of each bay 32. The one or
more bays 32 can also extend vertically between the support surface
24 and the top 26. In the illustrated embodiment, each shelf 30
extends laterally from one support member 28 to the adjacent
support member 28, and thus between the lateral ends of a
respective bay 32, although other shelf 30 configurations are
within the scope of the present disclosure. The top 26 of the rebin
wall 3 can also be defined by shelves 30 coupled to top ends of the
vertical support members 28 of each bay 32.
It is to be appreciated that in each bay 32, and thus in the rebin
wall 3, at least one shelf 30, such as a first shelf 30, can
vertically overlay at least one other shelf 30, such as a second
shelf 30, so as to define a space 34 therebetween. Such spaces 34
are also referred to herein as "tiers." As shown in FIG. 2, one or
more of the bays 32 can include six (6) vertically aligned shelves
30 that collectively define five (5) tiers 34 in the respective bay
32. It is to be appreciated that a bay 32 can carry shelves 30
sufficient to define a single tier 34, two (2) tiers 34, three (3)
tiers 34, fourth (4) tiers 34, five (5) tiers 34, six (6) tiers 34,
seven (7) tiers 34, eight (8) tiers 34, nine (9) tiers 34, ten (10)
tiers 34, or more than ten (10) tiers 34, for example.
The rebin wall 3 also includes a plurality of dividers 35, also
referred to herein as "partitions," disposed within the tiers 34 so
as to separate at least one chute 6 from at least one other chute 6
within a respective tier 34. Thus, the number of chutes 6 within
each tier 34 can be determined by the number of partitions 35
therein. It is to be appreciated that any plurality of vertically
aligned chutes 6, such as chutes 6 intersected by a single vertical
axis Z1, can be referred to as a "column" 37 of chutes 6. It is
also to be appreciated that any plurality of laterally aligned
chutes 6, such as chutes 6 intersected by a single lateral axis Y2,
can be referred to as a "row" 39 of chutes 6. Thus, each tier 34
that includes at least one partition 35 can be said to comprise a
row 39 of chutes 6.
The lateral spacing of one or more partitions 35 within a tier 34
can define a lateral dimension, specifically the width W, of chutes
6 within the tier 34, particularly those that are defined by the
one or more partitions 35. The partitions 35 can be laterally
spaced from each other according to one or more widths W, which are
preferably standardized widths W associated with the rebin wall 3.
By way of non-limiting example, some of the chutes 6 shown in FIG.
2 are indicated by standardized chute sizes of small S, medium M,
large L, and extra-large XL, each of which can defined by one or
more of a standardized width W, a standardized height H, or a
standardized area measured along a plane extending along the
lateral direction Y and the vertical direction Z, which area can be
defined by one or more combinations of standardized heights H and
widths W.
In view of the foregoing, it can be said that the rebin wall 3
defines a plurality of chutes 6 arranged in rows 39 and columns 37
of chutes 6, wherein chutes 6 of each of the rows 39 of chutes are
spaced from each other along the lateral direction Y, and chutes of
each of the columns of chutes are spaced from each other along the
vertical direction Z.
Referring now to FIG. 3, each support member 28 preferably includes
a mounting structure, such as a sequence of vertically aligned
mounting slots 36 at each of the induction side I and the outlet
side O. Each of the mounting slots 36 can be configured for
selectively receiving a complimentary mounting protrusion 38
extending from a lateral side of one or more of the shelves 30.
Thus, any shelf 30 having the mounting protrusions 38 can be
uncoupled from the respective mounting slots 36 and vertically
repositioned along the vertical support members 28. In this manner,
the vertical dimension of one or more of the tiers 34 can be
adjusted.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, one or more and up to all of the
shelves 30 of the rebin wall 3 define a bottom surface 40 and an
opposed top surface 42 that can each extend from the induction side
I to the outlet side O of the rebin wall 3. The top surface 42 is
smooth, and is also preferably planer, which facilitate the
movement of items along the top surface 42, particularly by the
first operator 4 sliding the items from the rebin portion R to the
packing portion P. The shelf 30 can define a plurality of anchoring
structures 44 extending along the lateral direction Y. For example,
each anchoring structure 44 can be a series of anchoring
receptacles 46, such as anchoring holes that are defined at least
in the top surface 42 and are spaced from each other sequentially
along the lateral direction Y such that a single lateral axis Y2
intersects each of the anchoring receptacles 46 of the series 44.
The anchoring receptacles 46 can extend vertically through the
shelf 30 to the bottom surface 40. As shown, the shelf 30 can
define four series 44 of anchoring receptacles 46 each extending
laterally along a linear path that is spaced from the linear path
of the other series 44 with respect to the transverse direction X.
It is to be appreciated that more than four or fewer than four
series 44 can be formed in the shelf 30.
The bottom surface 40 of one or more and up to all of the shelves
30 an include a guide or track assembly 48. The track assembly 48
is preferably rigidly affixed to the bottom surface 40, such as by
welding, for example, although the track assembly 48 can
alternatively be monolithic with the shelf 30. The track assembly
48 includes at least first and second guide members 50 that are
elongate along the lateral direction Y. Each guide member 50 can
define a guide surface 52 that is elongate along the lateral
direction Y. Thus, it can be said that the track assembly 48
includes a first and second guide surfaces 52 each running along
(i.e. being elongate along) the lateral direction Y and spaced from
each other along the transverse direction X. It is to be
appreciated that the guide members 50 can be mounting brackets or
the like each defining an L-shaped bracket arm or portion that
defines the guide surface 52. Each of the first and second guide
members defines a locking structure, such as a series 54 of slots
56 that are sequentially spaced along the lateral direction Y. One
or more and preferably each of the partitions 35 is configured to
run along, such as by translating along, each of the first and
second guide members 50, particularly along the respective guide
surfaces 52 thereof. It is to be appreciated that the partitions 35
are coupled to the "overhead" track assembly 48 so that the
partitions 35 are vertically suspended therefrom.
It is to be appreciated that the guide members 50 also provide
structural support to the shelves 30 to prevent, inhibit, or at
least reduce bowing, which might otherwise occur when a large
number of relatively heavy objects are located on the top surface
42. The shelf 30 preferably also includes a rigid center support 58
affixed, such as by welding or the like, to the bottom surface 40
so as to be vertically aligned with axis Y1. Peripheral edges 60 of
the shelf 30 can include an overhang 62 that prevents people or
objects, including items deposited in the tier 34 underlying the
shelf 30, from inadvertently contacting, catching against, or
otherwise interfering with the track assembly 48.
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the partitions 35 can include a top
portion 64 and a bottom portion 66 that are telescopically coupled
to each other so as to be able to vertically translate relative to
each other, for instance, between a fully contracted position C, as
shown in FIG. 5, and a fully expanded position E, as shown in FIG.
6. The top and bottom portions 64, 66 are sized such that, when
coupled to a shelf 30, they each preferably extend from the
induction side I to the outlet side O. It is to be appreciated that
the top and bottom portions 64, 66 can each be referred to as a
"panel." Each of the top and bottom portions 64, 66 preferably
defines an array of apertures 63 extending transverse therethrough,
providing each portion 64, 66 with a grate-like structure. The
apertures 63 are configured to reduce the weight of the partition
35 and to prevent, or at least reduce, warping of the partition 35.
The apertures 63 also allow an operator to grip the top and/or
bottom portions 64, 66 by interdigitating his or her fingers within
the apertures as needed, such as when repositioning the partition
35 to reconfigure the dimensions of one or more adjacent chutes 6.
The top portion 64 includes a follower mechanism 65 for running
along the guide members 50 and a locking mechanism 67 for
selectively locking the top portion 64, and thus the partition 35,
in place against the guide members 50. The follower mechanism 65
and the locking mechanism 67 are each located at a top end 71 of
the top portion 64, and are each described in more detail
below.
The top and bottom portions 64, 66 define complimentary vertical
guides that facilitate the telescoping translation. For example,
one such group of complimentary vertical guides includes one or
more sliders 68, as shown in FIG. 7, each of which can extend from
a lower region of the top portion 64. The sliders 68 can each
include a retention head 70 that can be inserted laterally through
a respective opening 72 of similar size and shape located at a
lower region of the bottom portion 66. Once inserted through the
respective opening 72, the sliders 68 can translate vertically
within respective guide slots 74 defined in the bottom portion 66,
while the retention heads 70, which are wider than the guide slots
74, prevent the sliders 68 from backing out of the guide slots 74
laterally. The guide slots 74 extend vertically from a location
proximate a bottom end 76 of the bottom portion 66 to a location
proximate a top end 78 of the bottom portion 66. It is to be
appreciated that the vertical length of the guide slots 74 can
determine, such as by limiting, the extent of vertical, telescoping
expansion and contraction of the top and top and bottom portions
64, 66. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, at the fully
expanded configuration E, the sliders 68 abut respective top ends
of the slots 74, and in the fully contracted configuration C, the
sliders 68 abut respective bottom ends of the slots 74. To
uncoupled the top and bottom portions 64, 66 from each other, the
partition 35 can be placed in the fully contracted configuration C,
in which the retention heads 70 can escape the guide slots 74
through the openings 72. Another example of complimentary vertical
guides includes a pair of fold-over tabs 80 extending from
transverse ends 82 of one of the portions 64, 66, such as the top
portion 64, and defining respective guide channels in which the
other of the portions 66, 64, such as the bottom portion 66, can
telescopically translate. A yet another example of complimentary
vertical guides in includes complimentary vertical recesses 84 and
protrusions 86 defined by the bodies of the top and bottom portions
64, 66.
The bottom portion 66 includes a plurality of downwardly extending
anchor pins 88 that are insertable within selective ones of the
anchoring receptacles 46 so as to anchor the bottom panel 66 to the
underling shelf 30. Preferably, the bottom portion 66 carries a
number of pins 88 that corresponds to the number of series 44 of
anchoring receptacles 46. In addition to telescopically translating
between the fully contracted configuration C and the fully expanded
configuration E, the top and bottom portions 64, 66 of each
partition 35 can also telescopically translate between an anchored
position and an un-anchored position with respect to the underlying
shelf 30. In the anchored position, as shown in FIG. 4, the pins 88
reside within the anchor receptacles 46 and the bottom end 76 of
the bottom portion 66 preferably abuts the top surface 42 of the
underlying shelf 30. In the un-anchored position, the bottom end 76
of the bottom portion 66 is spaced from the top surface 42 of the
underlying shelf 30 a sufficient distance such that the anchor pins
88 are remote from the anchor receptacles 46 (i.e., the anchor pins
88 do not extend within the anchor receptacles 46). Once the
partition 35 is in the un-anchored position, the partition 35 can
be manually repositioned by running along the track assembly 48, as
described in more detail below. As shown in FIG. 8, the pins 88 can
optionally be coupled to the bottom portion 66 via a C-clip 90
received within an annular recess 92 of the pin 88, allowing the
pins 88 to be selectively coupled and uncoupled to the bottom
portion 66 as needed.
Referring now to FIGS. 6, 9 and 10, the follower mechanism 65
includes a first roller 94 and a second roller 94 each rotationally
coupled to the top portion 64, such as via a respective plain or
journal bearing comprising a journal or pin 98 extending through a
housing 100. The pin 98 can be coupled to the housing via a C-clip
102 received in an annular recess 104 of the pin 98. The housings
100 position the rollers 94, 94 to roll along the guide surfaces 52
of the guide members 50, thereby translating the partition 35 along
the lateral direction Y. The first and second roller 94 preferably
extend from their respective housings 100 so as to face away from
each other.
Referring now to FIGS. 9 through 12, the locking mechanism 67
includes a first locking member, such as a first locking tab 110,
positioned opposite the first roller 94, and a second locking
member, such as a second locking tab 110, positioned opposite the
second roller 94. The locking tabs 110 are also referred to herein
simply as "tabs." Each tab 110 is positioned opposite an abutment
surface 113 defined by the top portion 64 of the partition 35. In
the illustrated embodiment, each of the first and second tabs 110
is configured to slide along a latch structure 112 between a locked
position LP (see FIGS. 9 and 12), in which a locking pin 114
extending from the tab is received within a select one of the slots
56, and an unlocked position UP (see FIG. 12), in which the locking
pin 114 is remote from each slot 56 of the series 54 of slots
defined in the respective guide member 50. It is to be appreciated
that the locking pins 114 are preferably coaxial with one another.
Leading ends 117 of the tabs 110 can abut the respective abutment
surface 113 in the locked position LP.
The tabs 110 are positioned outwardly toward the respective
induction side I or outlet side O relative to the guide member 50,
which renders the tabs 110 easier to manually manipulate during a
rebin wall 3 configuration process. Each tab 110 can define an
outer surface 115 that defines a protrusion 116 for enhanced
purchase with a finger. Each tab 110 can also define an inner
surface 118 that is opposite the outer surface 115 and rides along
the latch structure 112 as the tab 110 moves between the locked and
unlocked positions LP, UP. The latch structure 112 includes a
detent arm 120 and a latch arm 122 each extending along the
transverse direction X. The inner surface 118 defines a first notch
124a and a second notch 124b transversely spaced from each other.
The detent arm 120 is configured to deflect into and out of a first
and second notch 124a, 124b as the tab 110 rides along the latch
structure 112 between the locked and unlocked positions LP, UP such
that, in the unlocked position UP, the detent arm 120 resides
within the first notch 124, and in the locked position, the detent
arm 120 resides within the second notch 124b, by way of
non-limiting example. In this manner, first and second notches
124a, 124b can optionally define the limits of the locked and
unlocked positions LP, UP.
The tabs 110 can each also define a transversely elongate guide
aperture 130 configured to engage the latch arm 122. The latch arm
122 is configured to allow for easy attachment of the tab 110 to
the latch structure 112, but to also prevent the tab 110 from
decoupling inadvertently from the latch structure 112. To couple
the tab 110, an operator can intermesh a first rail-channel guide
member 132 defined by the inner surface 118 with a corresponding
second rail-channel guide member 134 defined by the latch structure
112, and thereafter advancing the tab 110 until a free end 138 of
the latch arm 122 biases within the guide aperture 130. Once the
free end 138 biases within the aperture, retracting the tab 110
moves a stop surface 136 defined within a guide aperture 130 toward
an opposed free end 138 of the latch arm 122 until they abut one
another in a manner inhibiting detachment of the tab 110 from the
latch structure 112. An operator can decouple the tab 110 from the
latch structure 112 by depressing the latch arm laterally until it
deflects out of (i.e., vacates) the guide aperture 130, and
subsequently further retracting the tab 110 until the rail-channel
guide members 132, 134 disengage. It is to be appreciated that the
first rail-channel guide member 132 can define the locking pin 114,
as in the illustrated embodiment.
It is to be appreciated that the placement of the locking tabs 110
proximate the transverse ends of the partition 35 effectively
requires at least, but not likely more than, two operators to
manually reposition a partition 35 along the guide track 48. In
particular, the rebin wall 3 and the partitions 35 thereof are
designed so that a first operator working from the induction side I
can unlock a proximate tab 110 of at least a select one of the
partitions 35, which is anchored and locked at a first lateral
location along the guide track 48, with ease via pulling on the
protrusion 116 of the tab 110, such as with his or her thumb, while
a second operator working from the outlet side O can unlock the
proximate tab 110 of the select partition 35 with ease via pulling
on the protrusion 116, such as with his or her thumb. The operators
can also lift the bottom portion 66 upward, thereby causing it to
telescopically translate relative to the top portion 64 a
sufficient distance to vacate the anchor pins 88 from the anchor
receptacles 64. It is to be appreciated that the locking tabs 110
can be unlocked before, concurrently with, or subsequent to
disengaging the anchor pins 88 from the anchor receptacles 64.
However, it is also to be appreciated that the grate-like structure
of the partitions 35 can allow the operators to interdigitate as
necessary to lift the bottom portion 66 with one hand and toggle
the locking tab 110 between the locked and unlocked positions LP,
UP with the thumb of the same hand. Once the tabs 110 and pins 88
are respectively unlocked and un-anchored, the operators can move
the partition 35 along the guide track 48, via the roller-to-guide
surface 94-52 engagement, to a selected second lateral location
along the guide track 48, and to lock the tabs 110 and anchor the
pins 88 so as to affix the partition 35 to the shelves 30 at the
second select location. It is to be appreciated that the partitions
35 and the track assembly 48 are cooperatively configured such
that, once the pins 88 of a partition 35 are unanchored from the
receptacles 46, the operators can rotate the partition 35 upwards
at least about 45 degrees toward the upper shelf 30 while the
partition 35 remains oriented along the third direction X (and thus
perpendicular to the lateral direction Y), which upward rotation
can assist the operators in translating the partition 35 along the
guide members 50. Moreover, the cooperative design of the track
assembly 48 and the partitions 35, including the attachable and
detachable pins 98 and clips 102 of the rollers 94, allows the
operators to couple additional partitions 35 to a tier 34 or detach
partitions 35 from a tier 34 as needed to achieve a desired wall 3
configuration. The foregoing features of the rebin wall 3 allow the
operators to quickly and efficiently reconfigure the dimensions of
one or more and up to all of the chutes 6 in the rebin wall 3. Such
reconfiguration, as mentioned above, can be accomplished with
minimal work stoppage, particularly when the reconfiguring is
performed during regular work stoppages, such as a lunch break, for
example.
The inventors envision that the rebin wall 3 can be reconfigured
multiple times a day. For example, referring again to FIG. 1, the
control unit 12 can be configured to send instructions for
reconfiguring the dimensions of the chutes 6 multiple times per day
to the station 5 based on the items that the control unit 12
anticipates conveying to the station 5. Similarly, the control unit
12 can be configured to route items to particular rebin walls 3
within a fulfillment center based on the present or anticipated
configuration of the respective rebin wall 3. In this manner, the
reconfigurable rebin walls 3 described herein provide a fulfillment
center with greater flexibility for sorting items, in addition to
the enhanced efficiency and work volume mentioned above.
Additional non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure are
set forth below:
Embodiment 1
A method of reconfiguring a wall 3 of an item sorting system 1 in
an order fulfillment center--the wall 3 defining a plurality of
chutes 6 arranged in rows 39 and columns 37 of chutes, wherein
chutes 6 of each of the rows 39 of chutes are spaced from each
other along a lateral direction Y, and chutes 6 of each of the
columns 37 of chutes are spaced from each other along a vertical
direction Z perpendicular to the lateral direction Y--the method
comprising; conveying a plurality of items 2 along at least one
conveyor 9 to a station 5 proximate an induction side I of the wall
3, wherein the induction side I of the wall 3 is opposite an outlet
side O of the wall 3 along a third direction X perpendicular to
each of the lateral direction Y and the vertical direction Z;
moving at least some of the plurality of items 2 from the station 5
to the induction side I; depositing the at least some of the items
2 through openings into respective chutes 6 of the plurality of
chutes 6, thereby consolidating groups of the plurality of items 2
into the respective chutes 6, wherein each of the groups is
associated with a customer order; transmitting a first signal to a
control unit 12 that is in operative control of the at least one
conveyor 5, thereby causing the control unit 12 to pause the at
least one conveyor 5 responsive to the first signal. The method
includes, while the at least one conveyor 5 is paused:
telescopically contracting each of a first partition 35 and a
second partition 35 of a select row 39 of chutes upward along the
vertical direction Z, thereby uncoupling anchor pins 88 affixed to
a bottom end 76 of each of the first and second partitions 35 from
engagement with complimentary first anchor receptacles 46 defined
in a first shelf 30 that defines a bottom of the select row 39 of
chutes; after the telescopically contracting step, translating the
first and second partitions 35 along a track assembly 48 elongate
along the lateral direction Y, the track assembly affixed to an
underside 40 of a second shelf 30 that defines a top of the select
row 39 of chutes, each of the first and second partitions 35
separating a respective pair of chutes 6 of the select row 39 of
chutes, wherein the translating step adjusts a dimension of each
chute 6 of the respective pair of chutes along the lateral
direction Y; and telescopically expanding the first and second
partitions 35 downward along the vertical direction Z, thereby
coupling the anchor pins 80 to complimentary second anchor
receptacles 46 defined in the first shelf 30 in a manner anchoring
the first and second receptacles 35 to the first shelf 30. The
method includes transmitting a second signal to the control unit
12, thereby causing the control unit 12 to resume conveyance of the
at least one conveyor 5 responsive to the second signal.
Embodiment 2
The method of Embodiment 1, further comprising, while the at least
one conveyor 5 is paused, adjusting a dimension of each chute 6 of
the select row 39 of chutes along the vertical direction Z, wherein
the adjusting step comprises moving at least one of the first and
second shelves 30 with respect to the other of the first and second
shelves 30 along the vertical direction Z.
Embodiment 3
The method of Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, wherein the translating
step comprises manually moving the first and second partitions 35
along the track assembly 48, wherein the manually moving step
comprises: causing a first pair of rollers 94 rotationally coupled
to a top end 71 of the first partition 35 to roll along a first
guide surface 52 defined by a first guide member 50 of the track
assembly 48, and causing a second pair of rollers 94 rotationally
coupled to a top end 71 of the second partition 35 to roll along a
second guide surface 52 defined by a second guide member 50 of the
track assembly 48, wherein the guide surfaces 52 are spaced from
each other along the third direction X, a center support member 58
of the track assembly 48 extends parallel with the guide surfaces
52 along the lateral direction Y, and the center support member 58
is disposed equidistantly between the guide surfaces 52 with
respect to the third direction X.
Embodiment 4
The method of Embodiment 3, further comprising, prior to the
manually moving step: moving each of a first tab 110 and a second
tab 110 coupled to the top end 71 of the first partition 35 from
respective first and second locked positions LP to respective first
and second unlocked positions UP, wherein 1) in the first locked
position LP, a first locking pin 114 of the first tab 110 extends
within one of a first series 54 of complimentary slots 56 spaced
sequentially along the first guide member 50, and 2) in the second
locked position LP, a second locking pin 114 of the second tab 110
extends within one of a second series 54 of complimentary slots 56
spaced sequentially along the second guide member 50; and moving
each of a third tab 110 and a fourth tab 110 coupled to the top end
71 of the second partition 35 from respective third and fourth
locked positions LP to respective third and fourth unlocked
positions UP, wherein 1) in the third locked position LP, a third
locking pin 114 of the third tab 110 extends within another of the
first series 54 of complimentary slots 56, and 2) in the fourth
locked position LP, a fourth locking pin 114 of the fourth tab 110
extends within another of the second series 54 of complimentary
slots 56.
Embodiment 5
The method of Embodiment 4: wherein moving each of the first tab
110 and the second tab 110 comprises 1) sliding the first and
second tabs 110 away from each other along the third direction X,
and 2) sliding each of the third tab 110 and the fourth tab 110
comprises sliding the third and fourth tabs 110 away from each
other along the third direction X.
Embodiment 6
The method of Embodiment 5: wherein the sliding steps each comprise
manually gripping an outer surface 115 of each respective tab 110
and pulling each respective tab 110 along a respective latch
structure 112 that is disposed at the top end 71 of the respective
partition 35, thereby riding an inner surface 118 of the respective
tab 110 against a detent arm 120 of the latch structure 112 in a
manner causing the detent arm 120 to deflect out of a first notch
124a defined in the inner surface 118 and subsequently deflect into
a second notch 124b that is defined in the inner surface 118 and is
spaced from the first notch 124a along the third direction X, the
first notch 124a defines the locked position LP, and the second
notch 124b defines the unlocked position UP.
Embodiment 7
The method of Embodiment 6, wherein the sliding steps each comprise
sliding at least one guide rail defined by the one of the inner
surface 118 and the latch structure 112 along and within a
complementary at least one guide slot defined by the other of the
inner surface 118 and the latch structure 112.
Embodiment 8
The method of Embodiment 6 or Embodiment 7, wherein the pulling
step comprises moving a stop surface 136 defined within a guide
aperture 130 of the respective tab 110 toward an opposed free end
138 of a latch arm 122 that is biased within the guide aperture 130
until the stop surface 136 abuts the free end 138 in a manner
inhibiting detachment of the respective tab 110 from the latch
structure 112.
Embodiment 9
The method of Embodiment 8, further comprising depressing the latch
arm 122 along the lateral direction Y until the latch arm 122
vacates the guide aperture 130, and subsequently detaching the
respective tab 110 from the latch structure 112.
Embodiment 10
The method of any one of Embodiment 1 through Embodiment 9,
wherein: each of the first and second partitions 35 comprises an
upper partition panel 64 slidably coupled to a lower partition
panel 66 in a parallel manner, the upper partition panel 64 and the
lower partition panel 66 each extending from the induction side I
to the outlet side O, the upper partition panel 64 translationally
coupled to the track assembly 48, the telescopically contracting
step comprises, for each of the first and second partitions 35,
translating the lower partition panel 66 upward relative to the
upper partition panel 64, and the telescopically expanding step
comprises, for each of the first and second partitions 35,
translating the lower partition panel 66 downward relative to the
upper partition panel 64.
Embodiment 11
A wall 3 for rebinning items 2 in an order fulfillment center,
comprising: a first shelf 30 vertically overlaying a second shelf
30 so as to define a space 34 therebetween, the first and second
shelves 30 each defining a bottom surface 40 and an opposed top
surface 42 that is planar, smooth, and extends from an induction
side I to an outlet side O; a track assembly 48 affixed to the
bottom surface 40 of the first shelf 30, the track assembly 48
defining first and second guide members 50 running along a
direction Y that is parallel with the induction and outlet sides I,
O, each of the first and second guide members 50 defining a series
54 of slots 56 that are sequentially spaced along the direction Y;
at least one partition 35 having a top portion 64 and a bottom
portion 66 telescopically coupled to each other so as to vertically
translate relative to each other between a first position, in which
pins 88 of the bottom portion 66 anchor within receptacles 46 of
the second shelf 30, and a second position, in which the pins 88
are remote from the receptacles 46; a first roller 94 and a second
roller 94 each rotationally coupled to the top portion 64, wherein
the first and second rollers 94 are configured to roll along the
first and second guide members 50, respectively, so as to translate
the at least one partition 35 along the direction Y; and a first
locking member opposite the first roller 94 and a second locking
member opposite the second roller 94, wherein each of the first and
second locking members comprises a tab 110 configured to slide
along a latch structure 112 between 1) a locked position LP in
which a locking pin 114 extending from the tab 110 is received
within a select one of the slots 56, and 2) an unlocked position UP
in which the locking pin 114 is remote from each of the series 54
of slots 56.
Embodiment 12
The wall 3 of Embodiment 11, further comprising a plurality of
supports 28 extending vertically between a floor 24 and a top 26 of
the wall 3, wherein the first and second shelves 30 are each
vertically repositionable along the supports 28 so as to change a
vertical dimension of the chutes 6 of the space 34 defined between
the first and second shelves 30.
Embodiment 13
The wall 3 of Embodiment 11 or Embodiment 12, wherein the top and
bottom portions 64, 66 define complimentary features that restrict
relative movement between the top and bottom portions 64, 66 to
facilitate telescopic translational movement.
Embodiment 14
The wall 3 of Embodiment 13, wherein the complimentary features
include a vertically elongate slot 74 defined in the bottom portion
66, wherein a slider 68 defined by the top portion 64 extends
within the vertically elongate slot 74 and is configured to
vertically translate along the vertically elongate slot 74.
Embodiment 15
The wall 3 of Embodiment 14, wherein the slider 68 defines a head
70 that is wider than the vertically elongate slot 74 so as to
retain the slider 68 within the vertically elongate slot 74.
Embodiment 16
The wall 3 of Embodiment 15, wherein the vertically elongate slot
74 is in communication with an opening 72 that is wider than the
head 70, such that the slider 68 can escape the vertically elongate
slot 74 when the head 70 is aligned with the opening 72.
Embodiment 17
The wall 3 of any one of Embodiment 11 through Embodiment 16,
further comprising a center support beam 58 welded to the bottom
surface 40 of the first shelf 30 and spaced equidistantly between
the first and second guide members 50.
Embodiment 18
The wall 3 of any one of Embodiment 11 through Embodiment 17,
wherein the latch structure 112 comprises a detent arm 122
configured to deflect within a notch 124a defined in an inner
surface 118 of the tab 110 when the tab 110 is in the locked
position LP.
Embodiment 19
The wall 3 of any one of Embodiment 11 through Embodiment 18,
wherein the pins 88 comprise at least four pins 88 anchored within
at least four respective receptacles 46 when the top and bottom
portions 64, 66 of the at least one partition 35 are in the first
position.
Embodiment 20
The wall 3 of any one of Embodiment 11 through Embodiment 19,
wherein the locking pins 114 are coaxial with each other.
It should be noted that the illustrations and descriptions of the
embodiments shown in the figures are for exemplary purposes only,
and should not be construed limiting the disclosure. One skilled in
the art will appreciate that the present disclosure contemplates
various embodiments. Additionally, it should be understood that the
concepts described above in connection with the respective
above-described embodiments may be employed alone or in combination
with any of the other embodiments described above. It should
further be appreciated that the various alternative embodiments
described above with respect to one illustrated embodiment can
apply to all embodiments as described herein, unless otherwise
indicated. Also, the present invention is not intended to be
limited by any description of drawbacks or problems with any prior
art device.
Unless explicitly stated otherwise, each numerical value and range
should be interpreted as being approximate as if the word "about"
or "approximately" preceded the value or range.
It should be understood that the steps of exemplary methods set
forth herein are not necessarily required to be performed in the
order described, and the order of the steps of such methods should
be understood to be merely exemplary. Likewise, additional steps
may be included in such methods, and certain steps may be omitted
or combined, in methods consistent with various embodiments.
Although the elements in the following method claims, if any, are
recited in a particular sequence with corresponding labeling,
unless the claim recitations otherwise imply a particular sequence
for implementing some or all of those elements, those elements are
not necessarily intended to be limited to being implemented in that
particular sequence.
* * * * *